FREEPORT — A preliminary Regional School Unit 5 draft budget would increase local taxpayer contributions to support schools in 2012-13.
Regional School Unit 5 provides public education to students from Durham, Freeport and Pownal.
The proposed budget, released during a forum Tuesday night, shows an overall increase of around $238,000.
If approved, the budget would mean: a 3.8 percent increase in Durham’s local contribution, an additional $118,020 for a total of $3,233,590; a 1.6 percent increase for Freeport, meaning an additional $210,055, for a total of $13,485,458; and a 3.8 percent increase for Pownal, meaning an additional $65,539, for a total of $1,732,879.
As district officials await completion of a study of facilities needs for Freeport High School, finance and human resources director Kelly Wentworth said Wednesday that the proposed budget does not include any money for capital improvements there.
The anticipated capital improvements include $180,000 for a boiler plant at Freeport Middle School and $88,000 to replace carpets at Mast Landing School.
The budget process that began Tuesday will continue through June 12, when voters will validate or invalidate the proposal in each RSU 5 town.
On April 11, the board again will review the proposed budget during a public forum at 6: 30 p. m. in the Freeport High School cafeteria. Another forum will be held at the same time and location on April 25.
The board expects to have a final budget ready for approval by late May.
To view a summary of Superintendent Shannon Welsh’s recommended budget, visit http://goo.gl/3XGc5.
To see her PowerPoint presentation on the budget, visit http://goo.gl/Gy6X5.
dfishell@timesrecord.com
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